Connor Le Cras, 11, in his parents’ charity rally ‘banger’ and, left to right, Becky Le Cras, Inga Le Prevost and Helen Walton. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0974080)

THIS year’s Bubblegum Rally participants got together for the first time on Saturday.

Sixty ‘Bubblegum Bangers’ will in two weeks’ time take to the Continental roads to raise money for the Tumaini Fund.

This year’s event has been labelled ‘extreme’ and organiser Brin Harrison said it would be just that.

‘Sometimes we will be driving all night and there will be surprise challenges along the way – but it’s all going to be good fun.’

The drivers met at Pembroke car park and went on to have a barbecue.

Mr Harrison said it was an important meeting.

‘It’s a chance really for me to get all the paperwork together as well as a time for everyone to have a chat and to a look at each others’ cars,’ he said.

‘I have to sort out everyone’s passports, which you can imagine is a big task.

‘But I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with the organising and I’m looking forward to getting out there now.’

He said there was already a great atmosphere among the participants.

It is hoped that the event will raise more than £35,000 this year.

Becky Le Cras is taking part with her husband.

‘We didn’t do it last year, so we wanted to give it a go this year because it looks so much fun,’ she said.

‘Our car cost us £500, that’s all, and we’re now just looking forward to getting out there and doing it.

‘This is the first time we have all got together but there is a great camaraderie among the teams.’

Inga Le Prevost, 33, is a member of team ‘World Cup Wanderers’.

‘We did it last year and it was great fun,’ she said.

‘There is a lot of team spirit, which is great.’

Fellow team member Helen Walton, 27, said their car took about a month to design and repaint.

‘I’m new to the team this year and wanted to do it because it looked fun,’ she said.

‘And it’s raising money for a really good cause.’